Melancton Smith Anti-Federalist Representation: New York
New York (named after the Duke of York), was a part of the middle colonies. It contained many sea ports and was known for its agriculture. Like many of the other middle colonies it contained fertile soil and had good land for farming. The colonists in the area were known for shipbuilding and their iron works. With jobs avaliable and food from local farming, New York was an overall successful colony. Their ports allowed routes for trade and it also contained the Hudson River.
Occupation and Background: Melancton Smith was a New York merchant. He dealt with trade and other affairs dealing with foreign countries or other colonies. He was a polititian and a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He was acaptain of a minutemen militia company and served as a sherriff for New York. Coming from much experience with American policies Melancton Smith was a member of the Continental Congress and became one of the leading opponents.
Constitutional Convention: Melancton Smith attended the Constitutional Convention and opposed the size of the House of Representatives. He felt the Constitution was rushed, and the Articles of Confederation were not nearly as bad as people assumed them to be. He also believed the number of people in Congress was too small to adequetly represent America. He thought the National government was gaining too much power.
Convention of the State of New York: Melancton Smith attended the New York ratifying convention on June 21, 1788. He gave an important speech there discussing the number that should be given to the House of Representatives. He argues that certain numbers are too small, while others are too big. He claims there cannot be a perfect number but the number decided by the congress was too small. New York eventually ratified July 26th 1788.
Friends: Patrick Henry, George Clinton, Robert Yates Foes: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
"An Adress to the People of the State of New-York: Showing the Necessity of Making Amendments to the Constitution, Proposed for the United States, Previous to Its Adoption, "New York, 1788. In Pamphlets on the Constitution of The United States, Brooklyn, 1888.
Debates and Proceedings of the Convention of the State of New York , Francis Childs, ed. New York, 1788.
"TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers." TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2011. <http://teachingamericanhistory.org>.
Anti-Federalist
Representation: New York
New York (named after the Duke of York), was a part of the middle colonies. It contained many sea ports and was known for its agriculture. Like many of the other middle colonies it contained fertile soil and had good land for farming. The colonists in the area were known for shipbuilding and their iron works. With jobs avaliable and food from local farming, New York was an overall successful colony. Their ports allowed routes for trade and it also contained the Hudson River.
Occupation and Background: Melancton Smith was a New York merchant. He dealt with trade and other affairs dealing with foreign countries or other colonies. He was a polititian and a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He was acaptain of a minutemen militia company and served as a sherriff for New York. Coming from much experience with American policies Melancton Smith was a member of the Continental Congress and became one of the leading opponents.
Constitutional Convention: Melancton Smith attended the Constitutional Convention and opposed the size of the House of Representatives. He felt the Constitution was rushed, and the Articles of Confederation were not nearly as bad as people assumed them to be. He also believed the number of people in Congress was too small to adequetly represent America. He thought the National government was gaining too much power.
Convention of the State of New York: Melancton Smith attended the New York ratifying convention on June 21, 1788. He gave an important speech there discussing the number that should be given to the House of Representatives. He argues that certain numbers are too small, while others are too big. He claims there cannot be a perfect number but the number decided by the congress was too small. New York eventually ratified July 26th 1788.
Friends: Patrick Henry, George Clinton, Robert Yates
Foes: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay